Book Review: Reflection

   I've got an out-of-the-way book to tell you about. It's by author C. Everett.

Sensitive content: a few uses of the word "stupid" and "idiot"; some (mildly) intense scenes

Age recommendation: 10+

My rating: 4 stars

   This is a story about a girl who, after unknowingly acquiring a time-travel watch, finds herself traveling a year into the future. Once there, she discovers something that will change the course of her life and gives her a time limit to get back to reality. Along the way, she meets the maker of the watch and a new friend named Parker.

   This is an interesting book. I will admit, if you're only paying half-attention to the book (or can easily get sidetracked), the timelines in this may trip you up a bit. At one point, the main character is in a time line on top of a time line on top of a time line. Yeah. But it makes more sense when you read it, instead of just taking my word for it! It is written in a very relaxed manner and is a rather short read, yet the descriptions and situations keep your attention to the end. I enjoyed it the first time I read it . . . and the second time . . . and the third . . . and the. . . . 

   Find out more about it on Amazon or Goodreads!

   

Note: this is not a part of the book review marathon I promised. The marathon will hopefully start next week.

Random Thoughts

    Okay, I've been busy, preoccupied, and maybe a bit lazy lately. Hence, my absence. I'm hoping to get back on track soon with a Book Review Marathon. It will be featuring P.D. Atkerson's own Simon Lee series. I've read nearly all of them but have only reviewed two, so I'm hoping this will help me get a bit more consistent with my posts.

   By the way, I'm going to be absent almost all of next month, so any comments won't be published until I get back. Just a note.

   Also, you might be seeing a bit about some not-so-new WIPs I haven't mentioned yet. 

   I'd make this post drag on longer for the sake of it, but I haven't got much else to say for now. 

   

   

  

Happy Resurrection Sunday!

    

      I love Christmas. It's one of my favorite holidays. But Christmas, in which a tiny baby boy was born in Bethlehem, finds both its peak and its conclusion in Easter, in which the baby became a man and did something no other person in the history of time has ever done. This man is Jesus.

  He lived a sinless life, was sentenced to death out of spite and hatred, and suffered an agony deeper than any of us can comprehend.

Because His Father, who loved Him so much, turned His back on His Son and laid on Jesus the punishment we deserve . . . in fact, the Father was pleased to crush His Son, putting Him to grief (Is. 53:10)! 

   Let's face it–we don't like to be blamed for something we didn't do. We try to avoid taking punishment that does not belong to us. Why wouldn't we? The person who does the wrong should be the one disciplined for it . . . not some innocent bystander. It takes a lot of courage to take someone else's condemnation on ourselves . . . and a lot of love.

   Jesus Christ loved–and loves–us very much. He loves His Father. But why would He want to take on our punishment if it's just what we have merited?

   He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening [that is, punishment] for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed (Is. 53:5).

   Quite simply . . . that is why Christ had to die. That is why Christ took on the worst agony this world has ever seen.

Because we need Him.

   Without Him, we are lost in our sin. And trust me, you will not find any other hope for salvation except through the blood of Jesus Christ. Many people think they can. But the simple fact is that no one can obtain eternal salvation unless it be through the Lamb of God. 

   Have a blessed Resurrection Sunday evening. Keep the true celebration in mind. The celebration of the event at Calvary. The death of Christ. 

And the triumphant victory of death when Jesus rose from the grave three days later!  

 

He is alive today!

Book Review: Guardian Eagle

     So. . . . . .

   This is the book after the infamous Phantom Thief AKA Simon Lee (read my review of that book here). Just as the first book kept me guessing, laughing, scratching my head, and groaning in frustration, this one kept my anticipation up throughout. How could it not? It's Simon Lee we're talking about!

    

Sensitive content: some mild language such a "heck" and "idiot;" some intense scenes, some violence

Age recommendation: 13+

My rating: 4 stars

   Before I dive in, I need to throw out a very important warning label: 

if you have not read Phantom Thief, do not read this book!

   It links directly to the first one, and has major spoilers. However, if you have already read the first one and enjoyed it, then I certainly would suggest going and reading this one! It did not disappoint. Simon Lee is back at it: foiling evil plans, making a few of his own, outsmarting all those amateur people who underestimate him, and doing things that ordinarily are not recommended (such as thrusting oneself headfirst into a dangerous situation involving highly-trained enemy agents). It's suspenseful, shocking, amazing, disgustingly smart, original, and attention-grabbing-and-keeping. P.D Atkerson, you've done it again!

   Murphy Lawson is next, and I can hardly wait!

*I received an ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. All these opinions are my own* 

A Few Quick Announcements

    Okay, I just have a few little announcements. First, as you undoubtedly have noticed already, I changed my blog background. Oh, and I changed the header, too. And I may possibly have changed the blog font. Okay, I pretty much redid the whole thing. I was not paying much attention when I originally made the header dark red, the main part dark red, and the background dark red. Too red and too dark for my taste. Hence the changes. I personally think it's more cheery. 

   Secondly, the King's Daughters' Writing Camp signup is now available! KDWC is an amazing, Christian writing camp for ladies only (this is to avoid any potential awkwardness). I have been in all three of the previous camps and have made so many wonderful, encouraging friends. Not only that, but it is really effective motivation when I'm experiencing a writer's block. (Did I mention that I really like telling other writers all about my latest WIP?) You can read some of my posts about it here and here. If you're interested, check out more information on their website.  Gates open on March 25th and will close on May 7th. The official camp, however, will run the entire length of April. I'm really looking forward to it!